Methods, systems, and computer program products for processing a nature of address indicator and/or calling party number to support telecommunication features

ABSTRACT

A call is processed by examining a nature of address indicator in a signaling message associated with the call and allowing the call to complete in a jurisdiction associated with a national nature of address indicator if the nature of address indicator is international. A call is also processed by examining a nature of address indicator in a signaling message associated with the call. A number of digits associated with a calling party number in the signaling message is determined and the call is allowed to complete if the nature of address indicator is national and the number of digits associated with the calling party number exceeds ten.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/290,958, filed Nov. 30, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,213,593, whichclaims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/689,928, filed Jun. 13, 2005, the disclosures ofwhich are hereby incorporated herein by reference as if set forth intheir entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to communication networks, and, moreparticularly, to communication networks that use common channelsignaling, such as Signaling System 7 (SS7).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A voice and/or data call on a communication network may be viewed ascomprising two components: 1) the actual content, e.g., voice or datainformation being communicated, and 2) the information transmitted thatis used by the communication network in establishing connections androuting the content to the appropriate destination. Historically,connections in the public switched telephone network (PSTN) wereestablished and managed using “in band” signaling techniques. In bandsignaling involves transmitting on the same medium that carries thecontent of the connection. Unfortunately, in band signaling can beinefficient in that network resources are reserved from the point a callis originated to the destination point of the call even if the calledparty is unable to answer the call.

Another type of signaling in which the signaling information is carriedseparately from the bearer channels used to carry the content of theconnection is known as Common Channel Signaling (CCS). A CCS system mayoperate as a single resource that is dedicated to signaling and can beused to manage numerous connections in the PSTN, for example, that carrycontent. One example of a CCS protocol is Signaling System 7 (SS7),which is a set of protocols that describe a framework by whichinformation is exchanged between systems in a network via dedicatedsignaling channels. Advantageously, CCS systems in general, and SS7systems in particular, are substantially independent of the underlyingswitching and transmission technology. As a result, SS7 systems canevolve without being dependent on the evolution of the switching and/ortransmission equipment that is used to carry content in the network.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a call isprocessed by examining a nature of address indicator in a signalingmessage associated with the call and allowing the call to complete in ajurisdiction associated with a national nature of address indicator ifthe nature of address indicator is international.

In other embodiments, a calling party number in the signaling message isblocked from being communicated with the call and a call record iscreated.

In still other embodiments, the signaling message is a Signaling System7 Initial Address Message.

In still other embodiments, the call originates as a wireless call.

In further embodiments of the present invention, a call is processed byexamining a nature of address indicator in a signaling messageassociated with the call. A number of digits associated with a callingparty number in the signaling message is determined and the call isallowed to complete if the nature of address indicator is national andthe number of digits associated with the calling party number exceedsten.

In still further embodiments of the present invention, at least aportion of the digits associated with the calling party number isprocessed to facilitate operation of a service.

In still further embodiments of the present invention, a determinationis made whether to block or to allow the calling party number to becommunicated with the call based on whether the service has been paidfor by a customer and/or provisioned by a service provider.

In still further embodiments of the present invention, the service is apoint-to-point push-to-talk call.

In still further embodiments of the present invention, a first portionof the calling party number comprises an originating party's number anda second portion of the calling party number comprises a point-to-pointcode to activate a terminating party client.

In still further embodiments of the present invention, the service is apush-to-talk group call.

In still further embodiments of the present invention, a first portionof the calling party number comprises a group identification number anda second portion of the calling party number comprises a group call codeto activate at least one terminating party client.

In still further embodiments of the present invention, a call record iscreated.

In still further embodiments of the present invention, the signalingmessage is a Signaling System 7 Initial Address Message.

Although described primarily above with respect to method aspects of thepresent invention, it will be understood that the present invention mayalso be embodied as systems and computer program products.

Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according toembodiments of the invention will be or become apparent to one withskill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detaileddescription. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods,and/or computer program products be included within this description, bewithin the scope of the present invention, and be protected by theaccompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features of the present invention will be more readily understoodfrom the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereofwhen read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates a communication network inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates a software architecture forprocessing a SS7 nature of address indicator and/or calling party numberto support various telecommunication features in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a table that illustrates operations for processing a SS7nature of address indicator and/or calling party number to supportvarious telecommunication features in accordance with some embodimentsof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Specific exemplary embodiments of the invention now will be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention may,however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construedas limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough andcomplete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to thoseskilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed description ofthe particular exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In thedrawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. Itwill be further understood that the terms “includes,” “comprises,”“including,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification,specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations,elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence oraddition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations,elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It will be understood thatwhen an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” toanother element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the otherelement or intervening elements may be present. Furthermore, “connected”or “coupled” as used herein may include wirelessly connected or coupled.As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations ofone or more of the associated listed items.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

The present invention may be embodied as systems, methods, and/orcomputer program products. Accordingly, the present invention may beembodied in hardware and/or in software (including firmware, residentsoftware, micro-code, etc.). Furthermore, the present invention may takethe form of a computer program product on a computer-usable orcomputer-readable storage medium having computer-usable orcomputer-readable program code embodied in the medium for use by or inconnection with an instruction execution system. In the context of thisdocument, a computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be anymedium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport theprogram for use by or in connection with the instruction executionsystem, apparatus, or device.

The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example butnot limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagationmedium. More specific examples (a nonexhaustive list) of thecomputer-readable medium would include the following: an electricalconnection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM). Note that thecomputer-usable or computer-readable medium could even be paper oranother suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as theprogram can be electronically captured, via, for instance, opticalscanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, orotherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then storedin a computer memory.

The present invention is described herein with reference to flowchartand/or block diagram illustrations of methods, systems, and computerprogram products in accordance with exemplary embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart and/orblock diagram illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the flowchartand/or block diagram illustrations, may be implemented by computerprogram instructions and/or hardware operations. These computer programinstructions may be provided to a processor of a general purposecomputer, a special purpose computer, or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions,which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmabledata processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functionsspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerusable or computer-readable memory that may direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer usable orcomputer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture includinginstructions that implement the function specified in the flowchartand/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions that execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in theflowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

For purposes of illustration, embodiments of the present invention aredescribed herein with respect to use of a Signaling System 7 (SS7)network to process a nature of address indicator and/or a calling partynumber to support various features for both a network service providerand/or an end user. It will be understood, however, that embodiments ofthe present invention are not limited to SS7 networks or any particularCommon Channel Signaling (CCS) network, but instead may be embodiedgenerally as any network architecture capable of carrying out theoperations described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary SS7 network architecture 100 forprocessing a nature of address indicator and/or calling party number tosupport various telecommunication features, in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention, comprises Service Switching Points(SSPs) 110 a and 110 b that terminate customer equipment (CE) 115 a and115 b, respectively. It will be understood that CE 115 a and 115 b mayrepresent one or more devices that may be used to originate and orterminate a call over a communication network, such as the publicswitched telephone network (PSTN). The SS7 network 100 further comprisesan SSP 120 that is connected to a wireless network 125 by, for example,trunk lines/channels. The wireless network terminates CE 130, which mayrepresent one or more mobile terminals. As used herein, the term “mobileterminal or device” may include a satellite or cellular radiotelephonewith or without a multi-line display; a Personal Communications System(PCS) terminal that may combine a cellular radiotelephone with dataprocessing, facsimile and data communications capabilities; a PDA thatcan include a radiotelephone, pager, Internet/intranet access, Webbrowser, organizer, calendar and/or a global positioning system (GPS)receiver; and a conventional laptop and/or palmtop receiver or otherappliance that includes a radiotelephone transceiver. Mobile terminalsmay also be referred to as “pervasive computing” devices.

SSPs 110 a and 110 b are switches that originate, terminate, and routecalls and provide entry into the SS7 network. SSPs 110 a and 110 b maybe called “local exchange” switches because they terminate connectionsto end-users and, as shown in FIG. 1, optionally include trunkconnection(s) between each other. SSP 120 may be called a “tandemexchange” because it does not terminate connections to end users, butinstead terminates only trunks to other SSPs (e.g., SSP 110 b) or thewireless network 125, for example. SSPs 110 a and 110 b may be referredto as Class 5 switching systems while SSP 120 may be referred to as aClass 4 switching system.

In an SS7 network, SSPs send signaling messages to other SSPs to setup,manage, and release network resources to complete calls/connections. Thesignaling traffic between SSPs is carried by one or more Signal TransferPoints (STPs). As shown in FIG. 1, STPs 135 a and 135 b may be used toSS7 signaling messages between SSPs 110 a and 110 b and/or to other SSPsnot shown in FIG. 1. An STP is typically embodied as a packet switchthat routes each incoming message to an outgoing signaling link based onrouting information contained in the SS7 message.

The SS7 network 100 further Comprises Signal Control Points (SCPs) 140 aand 140 b, which may optionally be used to provide Intelligent Network(IN) services by allowing the SSPs in the SS7 network to access the SCPsvia special signaling messages.

Although. FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary communication network, it willbe understood that the present invention is not limited to suchconfigurations, but is intended to encompass any configuration capableof carrying out the operations described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a processor 200 and a memory 202 that may be used inembodiments of methods, systems, and computer program products forprocessing a SS7 nature of address indicator and/of calling party numberto support various telecommunication features. For example, in someembodiments of the present invention, the processor 200 and memory 202may be used to embody the processors and the memories used in the SSPs110 a, 110 b, and 120 of FIG. 1. The processor 200 communicates with thememory 202 via an address/data bus 204. The processor 200 may be, forexample, a commercially available or custom microprocessor that issuitable for use in a real-time telecommunication system, such as aClass 5 and/or Class 4 switching system. The memory 202 isrepresentative of the overall hierarchy of memory devices containing thesoftware and data used to process a nature of address indicator and/orcalling party number to support various telecommunication features, inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The memory202 may include, but is not limited to, the following types of devices:cache, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash, SRAM, and DRAM.

As shown in FIG. 2, the memory 202 may hold three or more majorcategories of software and data: an operating system 206, a callprocessing module 208, and a operations, administration, and maintenance(OA&M) module 210. The operating system 206 controls the operation ofthe SSP. In particular, the operating system 206 may manage the SSP'sresources and may coordinate execution of programs by the processor 200.

The call-processing module 208 may provide the logic for originating,routing, terminating, and/or maintaining calls on the SSP. The OA&Mmodule 210 may provide the logic for maintaining an SSP including, butnot limited to, maintenance functionality, diagnostic functionality,provisioning functionality, and/or billing functionality.

The call processing module 208 comprises a flex calling party module 212in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The flexcalling party module 212 cooperates with the SS7 protocol to process anInitial Address Message (IAM). The IAM is a message that is used as partof the SS7 ISDN User Part (ISUP) layer. The ISUP layer correspondsgenerally to parts of the transport through application layers in theOpen Systems Interconnect (OSI) seven-layer model, ISUP defines theprotocol and procedures used to set-up, manage, and release networkresources that carry calls over a communication network, such as thePSTN. ISUP is used for both ISDN and non-ISDN calls. An IAM message isforwarded from the originating SSP to the terminating SSP via the STPsin the SS7 network. The IAM contains the called party number in themandatory variable part of the message and contains the calling partynumber and the nature of address indicator in the optional variable partof the message. According to some embodiments of the present invention,the flex calling party module 212 processes the nature of addressindicator and/or the calling party number in the IAM message to supportvarious telecommunication features. The nature of address indicatorspecifies whether an address is for national, international, or otheruse.

Although FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary software architecture that mayfacilitate processing of a nature of address indicator and/or callingparty number in an SS7 IAM message to support various features for botha network service provider and/or an end user, it will be understoodthat the present invention is not limited to such a configuration but isintended to encompass any configuration capable of carrying out theoperations described herein.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of SSPs discussedabove with respect to FIG. 2 may be written in a high-level programminglanguage, such as C or C++, for development convenience. In addition,computer program code for carrying out operations of embodiments of thepresent invention may also be written in other programming languages,such as, but not limited to, interpreted languages. Some modules orroutines may be written in assembly language or even micro-code toenhance performance and/or memory usage. It will be further appreciatedthat the functionality of any or all of the program modules may also beimplemented using discrete hardware components, one or more applicationspecific integrated circuits (ASICs), or a programmed digital signalprocessor or microcontroller.

Exemplary operations for processing a nature of address indicator and/orcalling party number in an SS7 IAM message to support varioustelecommunication features will now be described with reference to FIG.3. The table of FIG. 3 illustrates a decision matrix for processing thenature of address indicator and the calling party number in an SS7 IAMmessage. The nature of address indicator is represented by the twocolumns while the calling party number is represented by the two rows.Example 1 below illustrates the nature of address indicator and thecalling party number fields in an IAM message for a call made in theUnited States:

42 00001010 0a OF Calling Party Number Identifier 43 00000111 07 OV Length=7 octets 44 -0000011 03 OV  Nature of Address Indicator=Uniquenational  number 0------- OV  Odd/Even Indicator=Even num of address signals 45 ------00 10 OV  Screening Indicator=Reserved, user, not screened ----00-- OV  Presentation Restriction  Indicator=Presentationallowed -001---- OV  Numbering Plan Indicator=ISDN (Telephony) 4600000010 02 OV  Calling Party Number=2059522504

Example 1

In this case, the nature of address indicator is unique national (i.e.,a U.S. call) and the calling party number is a 10-digit phone number.Such a call would be processed conventionally in the SS7 network byforwarding the calling party number to the destination SSP via,potentially, one or more STPs.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, if the flexcalling party module 212 in an SSP detects that the nature of addressindicator in an SS7 IAM message is International, then, regardless ofhow many digits are in the calling party number, the call is processed,the calling party number is blocked (i.e., not forwarded to an STP) anda call record is created for billing. In conventional SS7 networks, sucha call would have been blocked in the United States. Advantageously, byallowing the call to complete, an International wireless roamer, forexample, may be allowed to make domestic calls while in the UnitedStates. Thus, a telecommunications service provider may offer thisfeature to a particular wireless provider by provisioning the featurefor specific trunk group(s) that connects the wireless network to theSSP tandem exchange (e.g., wireless network 125 and SSP TE 120 of FIG.1). Examples 2 and 3 illustrate JAM message examples where anInternational wireless roamer attempts to make a call in the UnitedStates where the calling party number is 10 digits long and 14 digitslong, respectively:

42 00001010 0a OF Calling Party Number Identifier 43 00000111 07 OV Length=7 octets 44 -0000100 04 OV  Nature of AddressIndicator=International 0------- OV  Odd/Even Indicator=Even num ofaddress  signals 45 ------00 10 OV  Screening Indicator=Reserved, user,not  screened ----00-- OV  Presentation Restriction Indicator=Presentation allowed -001---- OV  Numbering PlanIndicator=ISDN (Telephony) 46 01000100 44 OV  Calling PartyNumber=4472122504

Example 2

42 00001010 0a OF Calling Party Number Identifier 43 00000111 07 OV Length=7 octets 44 -0000100 04 OV  Nature of AddressIndicator=International 0------- OV  Odd/Even Indicator=Even num ofaddress  signals 45 ------00 10 OV  Screening Indicator=Reserved, user,not  screened ----00-- OV  Presentation Restriction Indicator=Presentation allowed -001---- OV  Numbering PlanIndicator=ISDN (Telephony) 46 01000100 44 OV  Calling PartyNumber=44721225042244

Example 3

In both of these examples, a conventional SS7 network would block thecall preventing the International roamer from completing a call in theUnited States using his/her mobile terminal associated with theInternational calling party number. Although only 14 digits are shown inExample 3, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention,the flex calling party module 212 may allow up to 18 digits in thecalling party number field in accordance with the SS7 standard. It willbe understood that the flex calling party module 212 may be configuredto process varying/increasing numbers of digits in the calling partynumber field as the SS7 standard evolves.

Returning to FIG. 3, if the nature of address indicator is uniquenational and the calling party number is 10 digits, then this is aconventional case and the flex calling party module 212 in the SSP mayallow the SS7 network to process the call conventionally. Example 1above illustrates the relevant portion of the IAM message for this case.

If, however, that nature of address indicator is unique national and thecalling party number is greater than 10 digits, then the flex callingparty module 212 may allow the SS7 network to process the call andallow/block the calling party number from being forwarded to thedestination SSP via, potentially, one or more STPs. A call record may becreated to allow the call to be billed. The decision on whether to allowthe calling party number to be forwarded to the destination SSP maydepend on whether the features/services that are supported by theadditional digits (i.e., the digits in the calling party number thatexceeds the 10-digits to define the directory number for the callingparty) have been paid for by the customer and/or provisioned by theservice provider. Example 4 illustrates the relevant portion of the IAMmessage for a nature of address type of unique national and a callingparty number that is 14 digits long:

42 00001010 0a OF Calling Party Number Identifier 43 00000111 07 OV Length=7 octets 44 -0000011 03 OV  Nature of Address Indicator=Uniquenational  number 0------- OV  Odd/Even Indicator=Even num of address signals 45 ------00 10 OV  Screening Indicator=Reserved, user, not screened ----00-- OV  Presentation Restriction  Indicator=Presentationallowed -001---- OV  Numbering Plan Indicator=ISDN (Telephony) 4600000010 02 OV  Calling Party Number=20595225042222

Example 4

As discussed above, the flex calling party module 212 may be configuredto process calling party numbers that are up to 18 digits long or longerdepending on how the SS7 standard evolves. Advantageously, by allowingthe SS7 network to process the additional digits in the calling partynumber field, a service provider may offer value added services, suchas, for example, a push-to-talk service over the PSTN by using digits 11through 14 to facilitate point-to-point push-to-talk service and digits11 through 16 to facilitate group push-to-talk service. As used herein,push-to-talk services refers to a feature that is available on certainmobile phones such that, when the phone is in a special mode, the mobilephone may function as a digital two-way radio in push-to-talk operation.Only one person at a time may be able to talk by pressing a push-to-talkbutton, but one or more people can listen instantly. Digits 11 through18 may also be used to support other value added services, such as, butnot limited to, paging features, alarm features, and/or various clientfeatures provided on mobile terminals. In particular embodiments of thepresent invention, on point-to-point calls, the 14 digits are made up ofthe Originating Party's Number [10 Digits] plus four additional digitsto identify the client to turn on. In the case of a particular wirelessservice provider, the additional four digits are “3333.” The digits“3333” tell the client that this is a point-to-point call. Thus, the 14digits for a point-to-point push-to-talk call may be, for example,77035233703333. For push-to-talk group calls, 16 digits may be used inthe calling party number parameter. The first 12 digits may be a groupidentification number and the last 4 digits may be used to turn on theclient on the far end. In the case of a particular wireless serviceprovider, the last 4 digits may be “4444.” This tells the client thatthis a group call and how to interface with other callers on the groupcall. Thus, the 16 digits for a push-to-talk group call may be, forexample, 0311110010004444. It will be understood that the examplesdiscussed above with respect to the push-to-talk feature are merelyillustrative of some embodiments of the present invention. Multipledigit schemes may be used to support other applications, clients,features, etc. in accordance with other embodiments of the presentinvention.

In summary, some embodiments of the present invention may use the natureof address field and/or the calling party number field in an SS7 IAMmessage to provide service to, for example, International travelers inthe United States who wish to make a domestic call from an Internationalmobile terminal and/or to provide additional services to United Statescustomers by using extra digits in the calling party number field tosupport, for example, such services as push-to-talk, paging, alarm,and/or other services supported by various clients on a mobile terminal.

The table of FIG. 3 illustrates the architecture, functionality, andoperations of some embodiments of methods, systems, and computer programproducts for processing a nature of address indicator and/or callingparty number to support various features for both a network serviceprovider and/or an end user. In this regard, each block in the tablerepresents a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one ormore executable instructions for implementing the specified logicalfunction(s). It should also be noted that in other implementations, thefunction(s) noted in the blocks may occur out of the order describedwith respect to FIG. 3.

Further embodiments of methods, systems, and computer program productsfor processing a nature of address indicator and/or calling party numberto support various features for both a network service provider and/oran end user are described hereafter.

The Flex Calling Party feature is a feature that may allow a LongDistance provider to provide flexibility in the Calling Party NumberParameter within an ISUP SS7 message to meet the needs of customersusing the SS7 Network. The Flex Calling Party feature, in someembodiments, may provide for processing a nature of address indicatorand/or calling party number to support various features for both anetwork service provider and/or an end user. For example, the FlexCalling Party Feature may allow the Long Distance provider to tailorspecific Nature of Address type and digit needs in the Calling PartyNumber Parameter in the Initial Address Message for each customer on aper trunk group basis. See Appendix A for an example of a conventionalInitial Address message.

This feature may have two immediate impacts for a Long Distanceprovider: First, by adding flexibility in the Nature of Addressparameter, this would allow the Long Distance provider to supportwireless roamers from other countries who are in the United States onbusiness or pleasure who need to make domestic calls. By allowing theNature of Address of International in the Long Distance provider'sswitch, this allows the Long Distance provider to give customers betterservice to their customers. Second, by adding flexibility in the numberof digits that can be handled, this would allow a Long Distance providerto support customers who need to transport more than the traditional 10digits in the Calling Party Number Parameter with a Nature of Address of“Unique National.”

The Flex Calling Party Feature may be added to the existing Trunk Groupin a tandem switch to allow the Long Distance provider the ability toprovide customized Nature of Address screening as well as customizeddigit transport across the Signaling System 7 Network to meet specificcustomer needs. It will be understood that this feature functionalitymay be applicable to any switching system.

The screening of Nature of Address allows the Long Distance provider tosupport International wireless roamers who need to make domestic callswhile in the United States. The additional digit transport could be usedto activate features or provide additional information digits to smartwire-line or wireless devices.

The Calling Party Number Feature may address the four following types ofCalling Party Numbers digit type and counts:

1. Nature of Address: International

Digits: 10

Option: Allow into switch and Block this information

-   -   On the out going IAM.        -   Create a Call Detail Record        -   See APPENDIX B            2. Nature of Address: International

Digits: 11-18

Option: Allow into switch and Block this information

-   -   On the out going IAM        -   Create a Call Detail Record    -   See APPENDIX C        3. Nature of Address: Unique National

Digits: 10

Option: Do not interfere with existing trunk group options

4. Nature of Address: Unique National

Digits: 11-18

Option: Allow into Network and Allow or Block this

-   -   Information on the out going IAM    -   Create a Call Detail Record    -   See APPENDIX D        Existing provisioning personnel may provision the Flex Calling        Party Feature at any time once the request has been made. The        Flex Calling Party Feature may also be changed as the customers'        needs change and there may also be a disaster recovery plan        built into this feature as well for customers, which may involve        continuous operation.        Exemplary Application Specifications:        A. Flex Calling Party Feature may support EANT (Feature Group D        type trunk) to EANT Call Model        B. Flex Calling Party Feature may support EANT to IMT        (Inter-Machine trunk) Call Model        C. Flex Calling Party Feature may be available on an individual        Trunk Group basis        D. Flex Calling Party Feature may support each of the four types        listed above via Keywords and options within the trunk group        E. The Call Detail Record may be able to support 15 Digits or        could be modified to support all 18 digits        F. Hardware Platforms: Switching systems, such as, for example,        the Nortel DMS-250

Many variations and modifications can be made to the preferredembodiments without substantially departing from the principles of thepresent invention. All such variations and modifications are intended tobe included herein within the scope of the present invention, as setforth in the following claims.

That which is claimed:
 1. A method of processing a call, comprising:examining a nature of address indicator in a signaling messageassociated with a calling party of the call; and allowing the call tocomplete in a jurisdiction associated with a national nature of addressindicator when the nature of address indicator is international; whereinthe signaling message is a signaling system seven initial addressmessage; and wherein examining the nature of address indicator andallowing the call to complete are performed on at least one processor;wherein the processing a call further comprising processing at least aportion of the digits associated with a calling party number tofacilitate operation of a service if the nature of address indicator isnational, and blocking the calling party number from being communicatedwith the call when the nature of address indicator is international; anddetermining whether to block the calling party number to be communicatedwith the call based on whether the service has been paid for by acustomer when the nature of address indicator is national.
 2. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: blocking a calling party number in thesignaling message from being communicated with the call; and creating acall record.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the call originates as awireless call.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the service is apush-to-talk service.
 5. A system for processing a call, comprising: amemory comprising computer executable program code; and a processor thatis coupled to the memory and is configured to execute the computerexecutable program code to examine a nature of address indicator in asignaling message associated with a calling party of the call, and toallow the call to complete in a jurisdiction associated with a nationalnature of address indicator when the nature of address indicator isinternational; wherein the signaling message is a signaling system seveninitial address message; wherein the processor is further configured toexecute the computer executable program code to process at least aportion of the digits associated with a calling party number tofacilitate operation of a service if the nature of address indicator isnational, and the processor is further configured to execute thecomputer executable program code to block the calling party number frombeing communicated with the call when the nature of address indicator isinternational and determine whether to block the calling party number tobe communicated with the call based on whether the service has been paidfor by a customer when the nature of address indicator is national. 6.The system of claim 5, wherein the service is a push-to-talk service. 7.A system for processing a call, comprising: a memory comprising computerexecutable program code; and a processor that is coupled to the memoryand is configured to execute the computer executable program code toexamine a nature of address indicator in a signaling message associatedwith a calling party of the call, to determine a number of digitsassociated with a calling party number in the signaling message, toallow the call to complete in a jurisdiction associated with a nationalnature of address indicator when the nature of address indicator isinternational, and to allow the call to complete when the nature ofaddress indicator is national and the number of digits associated withthe calling party number exceeds ten; wherein the signaling message is asignaling system seven initial address message; wherein the processor isfurther configured to execute the computer executable program code toprocess at least a portion of the digits associated with the callingparty number to facilitate operation of a service if the nature ofaddress indicator is national, and the processor is further configuredto execute the computer executable program code to block the callingparty number from being communicated with the call when the nature ofaddress indicator is international and determine whether to block thecalling party number to be communicated with the call based on whetherthe service has been paid for by a customer when the nature of addressindicator is national.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the service isa push-to-talk service.